The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-04-22

rks Grand Advance which ues neea
Made ~ . Democratic Administration
IL Glving u "a tho Country.
In the main. such provisions have
been made as to justify the declaration
that tho country has Al last . now navy
IN progress. Of which Il may be proud.
First Of sil como the new steel ves-
sells. the Dolphin. Boston. Atlanta and
Chicago. Of which the first named IL
complete. the two next substantially
finished. and the last capable u being
soon put 10 sea II needed. These were
the experimental vessels In the new
navy; but Of the Chicago there y some
reason To hope much. whilc all four.
though OF far too little speed. yet mark
nm advance upon the former era.
Next como three additional cruisers,
which are expected to be among
the fastest Of their class In the world,
the Baltimore. Charleston and Newark.
OF which the two former are now I'M
der construction. AID the latter soon
will be. since the Navy bill provides for
the needed increase Of expenditure.
The advance in this second group Of
cruisers. in the matter OF speed. Is
shown by the fact that while the Chi
cago, Of 1850 tons displacement, Is re-
CURED to get 5000 horse power from
its 937 tons Of machinery, the Newark,
Of but 4.0S0 tons displacement. Is re-
quircd to get 5000 horse power from
only $40 tons Of machinery. A com
parison of the Charleston and Baltimore
with the Atlanta and Boston will show
. similar advance.
To these seven vessels must now be
added the two cruisers provided for
under the new Navy bill. which are q
make nineteen knots an hour and may
cost 81. 800 900 each. Heavy premiums
and penalties for every quarter knot Of
speed above or below this maximum
are to be put in the contracts. Be-
sides the new cruisers. we find -four
fast gun-boats, two of these Of 1.7O(
tons and $40 tons displacement re-
spectively. being already under con
struction. and the remaining two
which are Of the larger type, provided
for in the new bill. There is alst
under construction pneumatic dyna'
mite gun-boat. which Is expected T.
have q speed Of twenty knots, and
which will throw from its three tube.
projectiles containing each 200 pounds
Of some powerful high explosive. Still
another addition authorized is . tor
pcdo vessel. Mt maximum cost o
| 100000. which is not yet designed.
| More important than any Of the YES
| sells yet named are the two armorc,
cruisers authorized at the first session
Of the late Congress. They will be 0
about 5000 tons displacement, hcavil.
armored. with powerful batteries. ans
having speed Of at least sixteen knots
| The sum allowed for these fine line-of
battle ships is $500. 600 each. and tn
chief delay in their construction Is du
to the necessity Of providing suitabl
armor. The Navy bill makes the yer.
handsome appropriation Of $4,000. 90
exclusively for armor and gun steel 70
these two vessels and for the doubl
turret monitors. These monitors. Il
turn. five in number, the Purital. Am
phitrite. Monadnock. Terror and Man
tonomoh. must now az last be reckone'
as part OF the effective navy. sine
while their size and other pcculiaritie
will make them Of limited service the
will undoubtedly perform certai
function in coast defense. Such armo
as the Miantonomoh will carry n
doubt can easily be shot through b
modern guns Of by no means th
largest calibcr. but she may prove Z
some service in harbor defense. Fo
the completion Of these monitors, e.
elusive Of their batteries. the new nc
appropriates -. APO. 900. and for gun
for these vessels and the others slread
named II appropriatcs 81, l2s, 1862.
Il The record Is not ended yet, sine
the new act provides 81, 900. 900 towar
floating batteries or rams for coast an
harbor defense, the final cost col
tcmplatcd being 1000. 900 exclusive (
armament. 1t also makes so. 0C
available for purchasing and testin
naval torpcdoes. and further apprt
priation Of $25, 900 Is granted for buy
ing the Stilleto for use as a torped
boat. The appropriations thus mcI
toned are exclusive Of those made
the Naval Ordnance Bureau for 4
ordinary work in the manufacture I
cannon. though in this latter the Sc
ting apart Of 1904 for purchasin
three stccl-cast, rough-borcd, six-incl
high-power rifle cannon. one Of Be
semer. one Of open-hrarth and one
crucible steel. il worthy Of special not
~. y. Times.